With the economy strong and a lot of companies looking for help, workers have more options than they otherwise would. That can create problems for small businesses, which may not be able to match the pay or perks at bigger firms.
But just because big companies might offer your employees a raise does not mean you can't compete. As a small business owner, you need to be creative and figure out what you can offer that the big boys may not be willing or able to match. Here are three ideas.
Be creative and flexible with how you manage your employees. Image source: Getty Images.
1. Offer flexibility
As a small business, you don't have to lock employees into a traditional schedule. Maybe one worker needs to schedule around a school bus pickup and drop-off, while another likes to work longer days in order to leave early on Friday.
Be open to your employees figuring out schedules that meet your needs but give them the hours they want. That may not look like a traditional schedule, but there's no reason to worry if everyone is happy and the work gets done.
2. Offer profit sharing
You may not be able to commit to salaries that are as big as what larger companies offer. But you can offer to cut your key employees in on a piece of the profits.
Doing this requires being transparent and giving at least some employees a look at your books. Give your most-valuable workers a piece of the profits and they'll stop thinking like employees and start acting like owners. This can lead to your small business operating more efficiently because top performers now have an incentive to maximize profits.
3. Offer an ownership path
As a small business owner or manager, you understand the appeal of not having a boss. You may also want to someday move on and have no logical heir apparent.
If that's the case, then consider making a succession deal with one or more of your key employees. That may include the worker (or workers) earning equity based on hitting performance goals and/or granting the right to make the first offer to buy the company when it's time for you to step away.
This isn't a small step, but it can be a powerful one. Making a deal where an employee eventually buys the company locks that worker in and serves as your exit strategy from the business.
Be clever
The CEO of a large company can't talk to every employee and create a strategy just for them. In a smaller business, you have the luxury of being able to get to know your workers and figure out what their hopes and dreams are.
Take the time to do that. Talk to each person and work to create a unique situation that makes every individual as happy as possible. Be proactive. Don't wait until your employees tell you they are leaving. Be aggressive when it comes to creating a positive workplace culture that at least makes people think long and hard about leaving.
